After Virginia Tech made the decision to fire Brent Pry after a loss at home to Old Dominion last September, it was the second unsuccessful hire since Frank Beamer retired in Blacksburg. First it was Justin Fuente and then Pry.
With two hires that failed, it was imperative that the Virginia Tech search committee, which was formed, struck gold and got the next hire right. Virginia Tech is a program that many believe is a sleeping giant that is waiting to be woken up. Not just anyone can wake it up. However, in October, one coach who could wake it up became available.
Penn State decided to fire James Franklin after three straight losses, and just like that, the perfect Virginia Tech hire became available. The search committee pounced quickly, and by mid-November, Franklin was officially named the Hokies' next head coach.
It's been said before and needs to be said again: Franklin's hiring could be bad news for the ACC when all is said and done. Franklin sat down with Pete Nakos of On3 and dropped a statement that should open some eyes across the ACC.
James Franklin puts ACC on notice after latest comment at Virginia Tech
Look, there were a handful of reasons as to why Franklin was fired in State College, but what can't be denied is his ability to rebuild and turn around programs. Look at the job he did at Vanderbilt and Penn State. He's looking to do the same in Blacksburg.
“We’re not a first-time head coach trying to share a story that there’s no evidence for. We’ve got a ton of evidence. We’ve done it in the SEC, we’ve done it in the Big Ten, and we’re coming to do it in the ACC.”
Of course, as you would expect, this comment triggered the Penn State fanbase, but if they just took a step back and remembered where the program was before Franklin was hired, then they would have a different take. Does Franklin have issues when it comes to winning the big game? Yes, and he would admit that, but there's no denying the way he can build a program and make it successful.
Let's also call like it is: winning in the ACC is easier than winning in the SEC and the Big Ten. Doing what he did at Vanderbilt and Penn State can be done more quickly in the ACC than at his previous two stops. Turning things around will likely happen sooner rather than later, but given the influx of talent that followed Franklin from Penn State to Virginia Tech, along with the additions through the Transfer Portal, it could happen soon enough. The rest of the ACC has been warned.
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